Microsoft Excel Whiz 2002 2003

Lesson 2: Adjusting Rows and Columns

You can adjust one or more column widths to best fit your need. If a column is not wide enough to display data, especially number, date, and time, it displays the data you typed as ##### characters rather than the one you entered. The standard width of a column is 8.43 characters, based on font defined for normal style.

Adjusting Column Width

1. Select multiple columns you want to adjust. If you want to select non-adjacent columns, press Ctrl key and then click the left mouse button

2. Move the pointer to the vertical line to the right of the column heading you want to adjust until its shape changes.

3. Click and hold down the left mouse button then drag the column to the left or right until the desired width is met.

You can also do the following to adjust the column width:

• Double-click the column heading separator on the right side to fit its widest content.

• Select the column you want to adjust. Click the Format menu, choose Column and then click Width. The Column Width dialog box appears. Input the width you want and then click OK or press Enter.

• Right–click on the column you want to adjust and then click Column Width. The Column Width dialog box appears. Input the width you want and click OK or press Enter.

Adjusting Row Height

To adjust row height, follow these steps:

To change the height of a single row:

• Drag the boundary below the row heading until the desired row height is achieved.

To change the height of multiple rows:

1. Select the rows you want to change.

2. Drag a boundary between the selected row headings.

To change the height of all the rows in the worksheet, do the following:

1. Click the Select All button.

2. Drag the boundary below any row heading.

To fit the contents to a specified height:

• Click the boundary below the row heading and specify the height you want.

• Select the column, point to Row on the Format menu, click Height, then enter a number.

Options Button

When you copy and paste the data to another cell, the Paste Options button allows you to keep the Source Column widths. To do this, follow the steps below:

1. Select the cell that contains the data you want to copy.

2. Click Copy.

3. Select the cell where you want the data to be pasted.

4. Click Paste. The Paste Options button appears.

5. Click the Paste Options button, and then click Keep Source Column Widths if you want to copy the column width.

Whiz Words

Lesson Summary

Formatting Rows and Columns can help you make your worksheet look more presentable. These includes adjusting column width and row height. To adjust the column width, place the mouse pointer to the right side of the column heading to which you want to adjust the column. Drag the handle until you reach the desired width. To adjust the row height, place the mouse pointer below the row heading to which you want to adjust the height. Drag the handle until you reach the desired height.

Study Help

Directions: Answer the following:

1. Why do we have to change the column width?

   ---

   ---

2. How do we adjust a row height?

   ---

   ---

   ---

3. What is the use of the Options buttons?

   ---

   ---

4. What happens if a set of data does not fit in the column width?

   ---

   ---

5. How do you change the height of the entire rows?

   ---

   ---

   ---